Closing the sale

The Drive Team

You've sold the car and the cheque has cleared, but the job is not quite done. Now you'll need to complete the 'notice of disposal' form, typically found on the back of your annual registration form.

If you can't find that then your state roads authority will have forms available. You need to sign it, as does the new owner, and then each of you must take a copy into the registry.

What happens if you don't? As far as the authorities are concerned the car is technically still owned by you, and therefore you are liable for all crimes committed with that car, from simple parking tickets to hit and runs, bank robberies and more.

A few minutes of your time in a registry queue could save you years of time behind bars.

Scams to watch out for In recent times, more and more people are trying to scam car sellers. Don’t let this deter you, just make sure you protect yourself by being aware of the main scams that are around.

Cashier / Certified ChecksIn most cases, someone disguising themselves as a potential buyer will send you an email (the majority are from overseas). They propose that they pay for the car via a cashier or certified check in an amount that is higher than what you are asking for. They generally say this is because they need to pay for the shipping costs, customs fees.

They will then ask you to transfer the difference (either to them or the shipping company). Never transfer money in this situation.

The MiddlemanThis scam involves someone acting on behalf of a buyer. They propose that they collect the money on behalf of the buyer, then they wait until the buyer collects and approves the goods before sending the money to the seller. If you find yourself in this position, ensure that you check that the company is licensed and has good reputation. If you can’t verify this, then do not proceed with the sale.